Denver City Council Approves Hunter SettlementDENVER — Today, the Denver City Council gave final approval to a $3.25 million agreement to settle allegations of misconduct made by Jamal Hunter against all parties, including the City and County of Denver. On July 25, 2014, the U.S. District Court issued an Order approving the settlement agreement as a resolution of all pending issues in the litigation.
“The resolution of this case marks a new day for our community and for our sheriff’s department,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “We are working hard to strengthen protocols and chart a new direction for the department that will restore the public’s trust.”
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, in addition to the payment, the City and County of Denver agreed to:

Engage an independent, outside third-party to conduct a review of the Denver Sheriff Department that will consider:

The classification of inmates at Denver Detention Centers;

The screening and hiring process for DSD deputies;

Best practices related to the discipline of DSD deputies; and

Best practices related to the DSD Internal Affairs Bureau.

As a part of the agreement, the city has also hired the law firm of Lewis Roca Rothgerber LLP as an outside independent firm to review best practices and litigation protocols of the City Attorney’s Office. That review includes:

Protocols for handling and supplementing discovery in civil actions;

Protocols related to ongoing internal affairs investigations in the city; and

Best practices related to professional development in the City Attorney’s Office.